Interested in Treatment?

For many exhibitors at WEFTEC, the show is an opportunity to promote new or redesigned products. Pump manufacturer KSB did that Monday with a bit of flare. Beginning with a short video reminiscent of an action movie trailer toting the slogan, “Conquer the Clog,” KSB showcased a new line of nonclogging impellers during a special media event.

“There are a lot of things in wastewater that are not supposed to be there, one being wipes. We need to fix that,” says Mike Blundell, KSB president. “How do we do it? There’s no silver bullet solution.”

Blundell says it’s not as simple as shredding material, especially when it comes to wipes, which can still develop into long, continuous strings that can cause problems throughout a collections system.

“We have to look at the system as a whole and understand that there’s a way to start changing the design so there isn’t an opportunity for a clog in the first place,” Blundell says.

And that’s what KSB’s contribution to the solution is — pump design. The company is promoting three new impeller designs at WEFTEC: the F-max (free-flow, vortex), the E-max (closed single vane) and the K-max (closed multi-vane). Two other impellers, the D (open single vane, screw) and S (cutter grinder) models, have been modified.

“It may feel like nothing more than a paper weight, but a lot of engineering went into that,” Blundell says of a sample impeller passed around at the event.

“We know wastewater is not the same all over the world. That’s why we have five different designs — to fit various conditions,” says Michael Otto, KSB’s product manager.

KSB also used Monday’s event to announce the company's desire to grow in the North American market. Blundell explained the company’s strongest presence in the water and wastewater industry currently is in Europe and other overseas markets.

“There is still room for improvement in the biggest water and wastewater market in the world — North America,” Blundell says.